Here’s data that shows Congo’s Ebola outbreak is on track to surpass history’s largest
Summary
A fast-spreading Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo has caused over 5,000 cases and more than 2,500 deaths, with numbers still rising. The outbreak is likely to become the deadliest on record, surpassing the 2014-2016 West Africa epidemic, as health workers struggle to track contacts and contain the virus.Key Facts
- The outbreak in Congo has recorded 5,290 confirmed cases and 2,516 deaths so far.
- It is the fastest-spreading Ebola outbreak in history and may surpass the 2014-2016 West Africa outbreak, which had over 28,000 cases and 11,000 deaths.
- Less than 10% of new cases come from known contacts; usually, over 90% would be needed to control the outbreak.
- Officials estimate that only 30% to 40% of actual cases have been detected.
- Contact tracing is low, with only 16% of expected contacts identified and followed up.
- The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, which has no approved vaccine or treatment and causes milder symptoms.
- The outbreak spread likely began months earlier than officially declared, starting in the mining town of Mongbwalu.
- The affected area has grown from 3 to 56 health zones across 6 provinces, including two recent cases in a previously unaffected province.
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